There are many, many styles and tempos of dancing, probably as many as there
are different forms of music. Each has its purpose and place, whether its the
slow waltz of a formal ball, the light step of a ballerina conveying the
flight of a bird, the frothing intensity of a war dance performed to jungle
drum rhythms, or the stumbling clutch of young lovers crooned by a ballad on a
darkened dance floor.

Many of the modern styles of music and dance - rock'n'roll, techno, trance,
industrial, disco, punk - can trace some of their roots back to the jungle
beats, where a driving intensity was often necessary to inspire the stirring
savages to hunt or to war. Hopefully the purpose is less brutal in today's
dancing, with the primary intent being that of getting a good workout.

Back: STAY YOUNG

Dancing hard, especially for extended periods of time, requires a strong
physique that cannot be feigned for long. It's a lot like running, only
better, if you ask me. Although dancing doesn't give you the same opportunity
to watch the countryside go by, it also doesn't leave you stranded miles from
home when you suddenly discover that you really need a drink.
With the rise and fall of rolling hills, running can give you a varied stress
level that leaves your system adaptable to a broad range of conditions. The
varying beat in any dance club will do the same, though. It also doesn't
relent when you're starting to feel a bit winded, and thinking it might be
time to slow down a little.

Your body needs the push of exercise beyond your normal routine to keep its
capabilities beyond your regular requirements. That way, you start each day
with a lot of extra energy. As you grow tired over the course of the daily
schedule, your reserves are called upon to support your efforts. Unless you
exercise regularly, to rebuild those reserves, the energy your body can store
starts to dwindle, and you grow more tired with each passing day, week and
year.

Dance hard. Get out and do some really strenuous areobics, and get the blood
flowing swiftly through your veins. Stay young, wash away the accumulation of
waste in your body, from the inside out. You'll feel better for it, and your
outlook on the world will improve. Problems always seem smaller when you have
more energy to deal with them, and days last longer when you don't get tired
halfway through them. Staying healthy gives you more time, and what advantage
does youth have, other than more time?